Telegraph repeater for uniform impulse code



June 13, 1933 H. H. HAGLUND fi fi TELEGRAPH REPEATER FOR UNIFOliM IMPULSE coma Filed Feb. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c Qn tro/ whys 19 aenamy ring;

6 T/CKEF? LIA/E5 aywem-to'c I5 Hake/2 Hay/u 19d em Y W A e l/W g g I June 13, 1933. H. H. HAGLUND 1,914,328

TELEGRAPH REiEATER FOR UNIFORM IMPULSE CODE Filed Feb. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WH WHEN? fi wmmm 54 l sang mg rings Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED s'r rss PATENT OFFICE BARON H. HAGLUM, 0F FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH comm, 9E HEW YQB'K; H. Y, A CORPORATION 0E 13W YORK emecnsen FOR UNIFORM IMPULSE CODE Application filefl seen-eas 12, misc. semi m. screen This invention relates to telegrep tronsmitting' and repeating apparatus for a, system employing signals of the Baudot code or uniform impulse code type.

The invention is particnieriy applicable to the transmission oi telegraph signals simultsneously to c large number of lines or to a line having a ler e number of receiving instruments conneete therein, or Where for any reason it is desirebieto transmit e relatively large amount of current, eltliongn it is useful in other applications.

One fielcl oi sppiicetion for which the invention is especially snitelole is in the tronsmission or repeating of ticker signals to 9, large number of subscribers. in the (iisiLriv bution of quotations for stocks, bonds and lines.

- number due to the sparking at eiiQ other commodities it is the present prectice to transmit the signals, corresponding to the quotations, from a single point enai to distribute the signals to venous parts'oi the country through 'sn involveli encl complicated relay system emi in the various cities the signals are again distributeci, through 5. series of relays, to at number of subscribers The current consumption of each receiving ticker is relatively high and the number of tickers which may lie operete through a single relay is iimited to e smeli relay contscis. Similar conditions exist in the operation of automatic stock quotation boards from a. mein distributing center or in the syndiceting of news to s. ierge number of subscribers.

It is one of the objects oi the present invention to provide 2, transmitting spparstns suitable for this service which may be operated at at high rate ofspeedfsnd which wiil 1 permit the transmission of relatively large ceiving instruments which rises not require glee use of a. multiplicity of distributing re eys. Y

A still further object is to provii a novel and improved telegraphtransmitting system.

Other objects and advantages will eppeer from the following descriptionteken in connection'with the accompanying drewings end. sppended, claims.

In accordance with one emiooelinient of so my invention I employ a. rotary transmitter which, if suficiently high currents are involved, me be operated an oil. or other ere quenching both anti 1 efi' ect the reversal of current to the segments of the rotary transmitter through one more gaseous conduction devices, which cont-sin one or more ionizcble eses, nietell c other ionizeble ineoiurn e t gee such as the SU-Ctll66i thyretron tubes, peble of passing the current end which may be cc r 4 he cl A type of tube which lore per-=- ticuleriy satisfector y for m v so sc-celleii. tliyretron dies ticle by Dr. Albert e cstlioiie thrreteons enrl pn General Electric Review vol, o April, 1923, at page 2l3. is in effect on electrc-steticelly arose rectifier enei briefly consists enreiope conteinin P en cetliciie, e.- surroiin 'ing encc'le geometn of the tulle sure of the gas and electron emissivity of the cathode bein such that with the proper positive potentia applied to the anode, the grid, if negative, will interpose a high starting re- 5 sistance to the tube but if the'grid is rendered positive by a feeble current, the tube will break down and due to the arc discharge then occurring, will allow a large amount of current to flow from the anode to the cathode.

The tube is unlike the ordinary three electrode vacuum tube or audion in that as soon as the plate current starts, the grid has no further influence on the plate current and the discharge can onl be stopped by removing or reducing the p ate voltage.

This eii'ect is attributed to the formation of asheath of positive ions around the grid, usually only a fraction of a millimeter in thickness, which contains the entire voltage 9 drop between the rid and the surrounding space. Varying t e potential of the grid merely changes the thickness of this sheath without eflecting the potential of the remaining space. The action of the grid may, there- 5 fore, be likened to a trigger and I haveused the term trigger electrode in the ap ended claims to designate an electrode wh1c is effective to initiate the discharge, but which has no further influence on the discharge, the nature of the electrode being thus distinguished from the usual audion grid, which exerts a continuous influence on the discharge through the tube.

In one embodiment of my invention I dispense with the rotary distributor and o rate the gaseous conduction tubes directly into the outgoing line. When the signals consist of positive and negative impulses, I employ at least one tube for the si sis of each olarity and arrange the circuits for the tu es so that the tube supplying one polarity to the line ceases to operate prior to or at the time of starting of the tube supplying current of the opposite polarity to the line.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood reference will had to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a startstop transmitting system embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a circuit dia am of a continuously operating transmitter, such as a multiplex transmitter, embodying the invention, and;

5 Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a transmitter, employing the gaseous conduction tubes operating directly into the outgoing line.

7 Referring now to Figure 1, I have shown diagrammatically a signal transmitter 10 which may be a keyboard transmitter or a tape or other form of storage transmitter, for producing the code combinations which it is desired to transmit to a plurality of receiving devices, such as news or quotation tickers,

the windings of which are designated at 11. The transmitter 10 has been diagrammatically illustrated as of the type disclosed in a copending application of S. W. Rothermel, Serial No. 390,726, filed September 6, 1929 and entitled Distributor-transmitter for simplex telegram circuits 1 Each ticker employed in theline material- 1 increases the inductance of the line and, tnemfore, in order to maintain the transmission characteristics of the line rapid, it is customary to use only a small number of tickers, usually about ten in each line and to operate each line through a separate relay. However, in accordance with m invention I may connect a large number 0 lines directly in parallel and operate them directly from the segments of a rotary transmitter, which is generally indicated at 12. The current consumption of each ticker line is about one hundred milliamperes and the greatest numher that can be employed on one line is about ten, due to the impedance of the tickers and line. The circuits for the ticker lines are completed from the segments of the rotary transmitter directly through one of the gaseous conduction devices, as will presently be described, and since the gaseous conduction devices of the thyratron type, of moderate size, are capable of passing five or more amperes of current, I am able to operate fifty or more ticker lines from a single rotary-apparatus. The rotary transmitter may be operated in oil or other are quenching medium,

as is well understood, to prevent detrimental sparking at the segments.

' In order to facilitate synchronization and to comply with the operating requirements of the type of tickers now being employed, the rotary transmitter is shown as of the start-stop type and is provided with the correct number of contact segments for transmitting code combinations comprising a start impulse, six character code impulses and a stop or rest impulse.

The transmitter comprises a set of control rings 13 and 14; and a set of sending rings 15, 16 and 17, each set of rings being bridged by brushes 18 and 19 respectively, normally held on their rest segments by a latch 20, controlled by a starting magnet 21, ,the brushes being adapted to travel in unison around their respective rings.

The ring 3.4 is provided with a rest segment R, a dead segment i) and six character code segments, numbered 1 to 6. Rings 15 and 16 are "each provided with 'a rest segment R, a start segment S and six character code segments 1 to 6".

Associated with the rotary transmitter are four transmitting tubes 22, 23, 24 and 25 and one tube 26 for controlling the operation of the starting magnet 21. These tubes are of the gaseous conduction t ereferredto above and are controlled through the contactsot a,

polarized relay 27, having an operating wind- 1ng28 connected to the contacts of the transmitter 10. The tongue 30 of the relay is caused to engage its marking and spacing contacts m and a respectively in accordance with the polarity of the signals transmitted by the transmitter 10.

The tubes 22 and 23 serve to control the application of spacin signals and the tubes 24 and 25 to control t e application of. marking signals to the sending segments of the transmitter 12. For this purpose the anodes 22 and 23, of tubes 22 and 23,- are connected by a conductor 31 to the positive terminal of a battery B, the midpoint of which is grounded at G. Similarly the cathodes 24 and 25, of the tubes '24 and 25, are connected by a conductor 32 to the negative terminalof the battery B. The cathode 22,of tube 22, is connected by a conductor 33 to theeven numbered segments 2' 4 and 6' of ring 15 and the cathode 23, of tube 23, is connected by a conductor 34 to the odd numberedsegments l, 3' and 5 of ring 16,, Likewise the anode 24, of tube 24, is connected to the odd numbered segments of ring l6land the anode of tube 25, is connected to the even numred segments of ring 15.

The grids 22 and 23 of the tubes 22 and 23, are connected by a conductor 35 to the spacing Contact a of relay 2'? and the grids 24 and 25 of the tubes 2% and '25, are connected by the conductor 36 to the marking contact an of the relay. Thetongue 30 of the relay is connected, by conductor 37, to each of the contacts ll and l to 6 of the ring 14:.

The cathode 23, the tube 26, is connected by a conductor 38 with the rest segment R of the ring 16- end the anode 26 is connected, by e conductor 39, to one termioi the starting 2i, the opposite terminal oil which is grounded at G2. The

grid 26 is connected to the spacing contact the relay 27.

The grid of each of the gaseous discharge tubes is normally insinteined at e negative potential by a stabilizing battery (I connected between the grid and the cathode through a high resistance and the cathode of each tube is maintained electron emitting temperature in soy suiteble manner, as by e heating battery A.

The solid l? connected to the lines Ll, L2, etc, which are arrenged in parallel and grounded et their distant end at G1.

The operetion of the system is as follows 2' Assuming the brushes 1% end 13 to be reston the rest segments it end R", negative or marking battery is continuously supplied to the line from the negative terminal of the battery B,.conductor 16, segment lt and ring ill to the lines Ll, M, etc. At. this time the tongue of the relay 2'? is maintained on its marking contact through a normally closed contact til of the transmitter 16. At the from the anode 26 thereof and the conductor 39 to the starting magnet 21. No current flows in this circuit, however, due to the high resistance imposed by the tube 26, on account of the negative charge maintained on its grid by the stabilizing battery C.

Upon the operation of the transmitter 10,-

a starting signal-of spacing or positive polarity, followed by six character selecting 1mulses of mixed positive and negative polar- 1ty and a final rest impulse oi. markin or negative polarity are applied. to the winding 28 of therelay 27. in response to the starting impulse the relay tongue moves against its spacing contact and'in sodoing applies a positive charge to the grid of the tube 26, from the positive terminal of the battery B, conductor 42, control ring 13, brush 1%, rest segment R,conductor 37, relay tongue 30, spacing contacts and the conductor 35 to the grid 26. a 2

Upon the application of this positive charge to the grid, the tube26 breaks down and an arc discharge occurs therethrough causing the operation of the starting magnet 21 and thereby releasing the brushes l8 and 12.,

As the brush 19 passes onto the starting segment S, e starting impulse is transmitted to the lines L1, L2, etc, directly from the ground and positive terminal of the battery B, conductors 3i and 43, segment-S of ring signal markin the tongue of the relay 2'? will have moved ack to its marking contact end n will be completed from the positive terminal of the bst'wry B and se nient l ring M te the marking contect of the relay 2? and thence to the grids of the tubes 2% end 25., The plate circuit of the tube 25 is open at the contact 2' but the plate circuit oi the tube 2% is completed from the negative terminal oi the battery through the tube 2 segment 1 of ring it and the brush 12 to the segment i? and thence to the line, lho tube 24-, therefore, breaks down and supplies e negative impulse to the line lib llli

ice

which continues as long as the brush remains upon segment 1'.

If when the brush passes on to segment 2 the tongue of the relay moves to its spacing contact, a positive potential is applied through segment 2 of ring 14 and the tongue of the reday to the grids of tubes 22 and. 23,

the plate circuit for the tube 22 being completed from the positive terminal of the battery and conductor 31 to the anode of the tube and thence from the cathode by conduc tor 33 to segment 2' of ring 15 and by brush 19 to the sending ring 17, in. such direction to transmit a positive impulse to the line.

The discharge through the different tubes continues, after it has started, as long as the brush remains upon the segment through which the tube circuit Was completed and the discharge ceases as soon as the brush passes from such segment. if same polarity occur in succession the first sfgnal will be transmitted through one of the tubes, controlled by that particular polarity and the following signal Will be transmitted by the other of said tubes. There will, therefore, always be an interruption in the circuit to a particular tube between successive operations, equal to the time required for the brush to pass over at least one segment of the rotary transmitter.

Inasmuch as each tube is capable of passing acurrent of several amperes am ableto operate a large number'of lines L1, L2, etc,

' directly therethrough Without any intermediate relays and thus eliect a large reduction in the expense of operation and in the maintenance of equipment.

I have employed two tubes for supplying impulses of each polarity to the line in order to provide an overlap and to insure that each tube will have the battery removed therefrom for a sufiicient length or" time to cause the discontinuance of the operation thereof, at the end of the transmission of each signal controlled thereby. The segments 1 to 6 of ring 14: may be made very small since their only function is to apply a positive potential to the grids of the transmi ting tubes at the commencement of th. signal, to break down the starting resistance of the tubes. Thereafter, the tubes continue to operate irrespective of the condition of the grids until the plate voltage is removed or reduced. the use of two such tubes for controlling the transmission of each polarity of impulses is a precautionary measure which is theoretically unnecessary the brush it) is in perfect adjustment since the deionizati on time of the tubes is a matter of m croseconds and would readily take place Within the time required for the brush to cross the insulation between two adjacent segments. However, since there is a possibility of the brush engaging two successive segments at tnc same time, close spacing thereof, 1

two signals of the missus arrangement shown.

The brushes 18 and 19 are synchronized with respect to the relay 27 so-that they engage their segments 1 to 6 and 1" to 6 at approximately the midpoint of the impulse transmitted to the relay, thereby insuring that the relay will have operated when the brushes pass onto their respective segments. The best part of the received signal is thus utilized to start the discharge tubes, and regardless of the extent of distortion or attenuation of the signals receiv the re lay, they are regenerated and re ed by the rotary transmitter of full duration.

in Figure 2, however, I have she P31 transmitter employing but a single tube ior controlling" each polarity of signal and arro ged for continuous operation as distinguished from start-stop operation. The apparatus shown may constitute a two channel multiple); telegraph system employing a five unit code. he apparatus comprises a pair of control rings 51 and 52, pair or" sending rings 53 and 54, a gaseous discharge tube 55 for applying positive battery to the line, gaseous conduction tube 56 for applying negative battery to the line and a polarized controlling relay 5?.

The ring 56 has ten short segments numbered 1 to 10 and the ring 53 has ten longer segments numbered 1 to 10. The segments 1 to 10 are spaced a sufiicient distance apart to insure the interrupt-ion of the current to the transmitting tubes during the passage of the brush from one segment to the succeeding segment.

The rings 51 and 52 are bridged by a brush 58 and the rings 53 and 54 are bridged by a brush 59 both operating in unison. The segments 1 to 10 and i to 10 are disposed Wit respect to the brushes so that the corresponding segments of each ring, as for instance, segments 1 and 1, are engaged simultaneously by the brushes 58 and 59.

The segments 1 to 10 are connected together and are connected to the tongue 30 or the rela by a conductor 60. lhe solid ring 52 is connected, by a conductor 61, to the positive terminal of the battery. The anode 55*, of the tube 55, is joined, by a conductor 62, to tl e positive terminal of the battery and the cathode 56, of the tube 56 is joined to the negative terminal of the battery by a conductor 63. Th cathode 55 and the anode 55 are both connected to each of the s ments 1 to 10 a conductor 64%. The g 1 55 ,01 the tube 55, connected to the spacin contact and thegrid 56, of tube 56, to the marking contact m, of the relay solid sending ring 54 is joined to the out going line L.

The operation of the s sem igure 2 i similar to then; shown 1 t e brush 5% passes on segments 1 to it a circuit completed marking contact m of the relay, to the grid of the positive terminal of battery B, ring 52, one of the segments 1 to 10 and conductor 60 to the tongue 30 of the relay 57 and thence through the spacing contact 8, of the relay, to the grid of the tube 55 or through the the tube 56, depending upon whether the relayds set to transmit spacing or marking signals. Positive potential is thus applied to the grid of either one or the other of the transmitting tubes. 1

The plate circuit of the tube 55 extends from the positive terminal of'the battery B, by conductor 62, to the anode 55, thence from the cathode 55 by conductor 64 to segments 1' to 10' and by means of, the brush 59,-to the sending ring 54, so as to apply a positive potential to the line L.. The plate circuit for the tube 56 extends from the negative terminal of the battery to the cathode 56 and thence from the anode 56 by conductor 64 to the contacts 1 to 10 and by brush '59 to the ring 54 in such a direction as to supply a negative potential to the line L. These circuits are normally incomplete, however,

due to the resistance of the transmitting tubes but upon the application of a positive potential to the grids through the segments of the ring 51 and the relay 57, one of the tubes breaks down to supply either the negative or positive impulse to the line. This impulse continues until the brush passes 01? of the segment of the ring 53. through which the tube circuit was completed.

It will be appreciated, of course. that if it is desired to transmit impulses of the same polarity for marking signals and no current intervals for spacing signals. the gaseous conduction tubes utilized in the foregoing systems, for transmitting signals of one polarity, as for instance positive impulses, may be omitted, the systems otherwise remaining as shown.

In Figure 3 I dispensed with the rotary distributor and operate the tubes directly into the outgoing lines. In this'modiification I have arranged the circuit for the tubes so that upon the application of a positive potential to the grid of one of the tubes and upon the starting thereof to apply a current of one polarity to. the line, the discharge is caused to cease in the other tube.

Two tubes, and 71, are employed, controlled through the contacts of a polarized relay 72. Tube 70 controls the application of negative polarity to the outgoing line and tube 71 controls the application of positive polarity thereto. The cathodes of the tubes are connected together and to the negative terminal of thegrid control battery 6. The grids 7 0 and 718 are connected to the marking and spacing contacts of the relay 72. The tongue 30 of the relay is connected to the positive terminal oi the battery I). The usual I tive charge to the grid of the tube stabilizing battery C and cathode heating battery A are employed.

The anode 70 and 71 are connected to the opposite ends of a potentiometer 73 bridged by the condenser 74, the outgoing line L being connected to theanode 7 0 and the return line L" being connected to the anode 71 The line battery B is connected to'the mid-point of the potentiometer and to the cathodes 7 0 and 71.

The relay 72 may be controlled in any desired manner, as by a key board transmitter 75.

In the operation of the system when the relay 72 moves to its marking contact to transmit a marking impulse, a circuit is completed from the positive terminal of the battery b to tongue30 of the relay and its mark. ing contact to the grid of the tube 70., thus rendering the grid positive and causing the tube to break down. The plate circuit for the tube extends from the negative terminal of the battery B, cathode and anode of the tube 70, lines L and L", and the lower half of the potentiometer 73, tothe positive terminal of the battery B. A part of the plate current also flows directly throughthe upper half of the otentiometer to the positive terminal of t e battery. Thetube 70 continues to operate to supply negative current to the line L as long as the relay tongue 30 remains away from its spacing contact. When a reversal of the signal current is desired, the tongue 30 is moved to its spacing contact thus restoringthe negative charge on the grid of the tube 70 and applying 1. The tube 71 therefore starts to operate, the plate circuit extending from the negative terminal of the battery B, cathode and anode of the tube 71 and lower half of the potentiometer to the positive terminal of the battery. The

condenser 74, which was previously charged from the tube 7 0 is now subjected to current in the reverse direction and therefore discharges in such direction as to momentarily reduce the voltage in the platecircuit of the tube 70 to approximately zero or below which is sufiicient to interrupt the discharge and allow the tube to become deionized. The tube 71 continues to operate, the circuit therefor, dividing at the potentiometer and part flowing through the lines L", L in the opposite direction to the previous line current and part continuing to flow directly through the lower part of the potentiometer to the battery B.

a posilit Marking and spacing signals are therefore While the relay 72 is shown, in the modification of Figures 1 and 3, as rated locally by a tape keyboard or other orm of transmitter, it is to be understood that it may 3 comprise the transmitting relay of a repeater set or may be operated in any desired manner. The discharge tubes may also be operated directly from the contacts of the transmitter.

It is obvious that other applications of the arc discharge tubes, of the nature herein described, to produce high speed current reversals in a line carrying lar currents without the interruption of the circuit in air, will occur to others familiar with the art and therefore I do not desire to be limited to the exact arra ments shown and described.

What I c aim is: I

1. In a signaling system, a rotary transmitter having a plura ity of segments, a line associated with said transmitter, means for applying potentials of difl'erent polarit to said segments for transmission to said 'ne, said means comprising an electrostatically controlled arc discharge tube for each polarityof current to be applied to said transmitter control circuits for said tubes for initiat a discharge therethrough in accordance wit predetermined signals and means inde ndent of said control circuits and includmg said segments for maintaining said discharge for predetermined intervals.

2. In a signaling system, a line circuit and means for applying current pulsations to sa1d 5 line circuit in accordance with predetermined signals, com rising an electrostatically controlled arc ischar tube for each polarity of current conductively coupled to said line,

a control circuit for each of said tubes for initiating a discharge therethrough, means for one ing said control circuits in respons to signs of definite polarity, to start a discharge through said tubes selectively and means for reventing the maintenance of a discharge through more than, one of said tubes at a time. I

3. In a signaling system, a line circuit and means for applying current reversals to said line cigcuit in accordance 1with predeteli'mined signs com rlsinganeectrostatica ycontrolled arc tube for each larity of current connected directl in sai line a control circuit for. each 0 said tubes for s discharge therethrough, means as for energizing one 0 said control circuits in to signals of a definite larity, to start a discharge through one 0 said tubes and means opera in response to si of the opposite polarity for discontinuing said 00 discharge' and a discharge through the other of said tubes.

4. In a signaling system, a source of periodic signals, a rotary transmitter operating insubstantialsynchronism with said signals,

said transmitter having control rings and ie telegrap conductiondevice conductively connected in 130 trol ring and means independent 0 said control rings and including said sending rings for maintainipg said discharge for a predetermined peri 5. In a signaling system, a line circuitg means for supplying telegraph signals 0 large current values to said line circuit comprising an arc discharge tube conductively connected in said line circuit, means for starting a discharge through said tube in response to low current tel aph signals and means for terminating sa1d dischar e, said latter means 0 rating in substantia synchronism with sai low current telegraph signals.

6. In a signaling system a source of periodic tele aph signals, distributing apparatus arrange to o erate in substantial synchronism with sa1d signals comprising control rings and sending rin a us conductlon device in circuit with said sending rings for applying current of positive polarity thereto and a second gaseous conduction device in circuit with said sending rings for applying current of negative polarity thereto, a starting circuit for each of said tubes including sa1d control rings, a si al responsive device in'said starting circuits for selectively preparin said startin circuits in ac- -'cordance with t e nature of t e periodic si -nals, said circuits being completed througfii said control ring to start a dischar said tubes to supply current of de ity to said sending rings.

7. In a s' aling system a source of period- 1c telegrap signals, distributi apparatus arranged to operate in substantial synchronism with sa1d signals comprising control rings and sending rin a s conductlon device in circuit with sa1d sending rings for applying current of positive polarity thereto and a second gaseous conduction device in circuit with said sending rings for applying current of negative polarity there- 115 to, a star circuit v for each of and tubes lnclud' sa1d control rings, a s' al respons ve device in said starting circuits for'selectively preps said startin circuits in accordance with e nature of t periodic s' nals, said circuits being completed throu gfii said control ring to start a discha through throlllgh ite argnalssaid tubes, to supply current of de ite polarity to card sending rings, and means for maintaining said disc ar inde ndently of said starting circuit an for iscontinuing the same after a redetermined interval.

W 8. Inas' a inglssystem,asource of periodsigna a line circuit, a gaseous said line circuit for applying current of positive polarity thereto and a second gaseous conduction device also conductively connected in'said line circuit for applying current of negative polarity thereto, a starting circuit for each of said gaseous conduction devices, a signal responsive device in said starting circuits for selectively controlling said circuits in accordance with the nature of the periodic signals, to initiate a discharge through said gaseous conduction devices to supply current of definite polarity to said line circuit and means for discontinuing the discharge through one of said gaseous conduction devices at the time of or prior to the starting of a discharge through the other tube.

9. in a signaling system a source of periodic signals of marking and spacing character, a rotary transmitter operating in substantial synchronism with said periodic signals and having a plurality of segments, a line associated with said transmitter, means for applying a potential of definite polarity to said segments for transmission to said line, said means comprising an 'electrostatically controlled arc discharge tube, a control circuit for said tube, signal responsive means in said circuit for starting a discharge therethrough in accordance with said periodic signals and means for maintaining said discharge for a predetermined interval.

10. In a signaling system a source of periodic telegraph signals of marking and spacing character, distributing apparatus. arranged to operate in substantial synchronism with said si nals comprising control rings and sending rings, a gaseous conduction device in circuit with said sendin rings for applying current of definite polarity thereto, a starting circuit for said tube including said control rings, a signal responsive device in said starting circuit for preparing said circuit in accordance with said periodic signals,

" said circuit being-completed through said control ring to start a discharge through said tube to supply current of definite polarity to said sending rings and means for maintaining' said discharge for a predetermined interval.

11. In a signaling system, a source of periodic signals of marking and spacing character, a rotary transmitter operating in substantial synchronism with said periodic sig nals and having a plurality of segments, a line associated with said transmitter, means for applying potentials of opposite polarity to said segments for transmission to said line, said means comprising a gaseous discharge tube having a trigger electrode, one of such tubes being provided for each polarity of current to be applied to said transmitter, control circuits forsaid tubes associated with said trigger electrodes for starting a discharge therethrough in accordance with the ed for each polarity of current to be tubes in accordance withsaid signals and means independent of said control circuit for maintaining said discharges for predetermined periods.

13. In a signaling system,-a plurality of parallel signaling circuits, a transmitting mechanism including at least one gaseous conduction path common to said parallel signaling circuits and means for intermittently completing said signaling circuits through said common gaseous conduction path and interrupting the same in accordance with predetermined signaling conditions.

14. In a signaling system, a. plurality of parallel signaling circuits, a transmitting mechanism common to said circuits and ineluding at least one gaseous conduction de vice for each polarity of current to be transmitted and means for intermittently completing said signaling circuits through said gaseous conduction devices and interrupting the same selectively, in accordance with the polarity of the successive signal impulses.

15. in a signaling system, means for producing groups of uniform numbers of selecting conditions, a line circuit including an ionizable medium, means for initiating a discharge through said ionizable medium in ac- .eordance with said selecting conditions and means operating in substantial synchronism with said selecting conditions for interrupting the dischargethrough said medium.

16. In a signaling system, means for producing groups of uniform numbers of selecting conditions, a line circuit including a gaseous conduction path, means for starting a discharge across said path in accordance with said selecting conditions and means for intermittently interrupting the discharge across said path.

17. In a telegraph system, a distributor, start-stop mechanism therefor, means for producing groups of uniform numbers of successive selecting conditions, a circuit for said start-stop mechanism, an electron discharge device in in response to the first selecting condition-of each group for initiating a discharge through said device and means for interruptsaid circuit, means operating ing said discharge prior to the completion of the last selecting condition of each group.

18. In a telegraph system, a start-stop distributor, a source of periodic signals arranged in grou s, each group having a uniform number 0 impulses, a plurality of gaseous conduction devices, means responsive to the first impulse of each group for initiating.

a discharge through one of said devices, to start said distributor into 0 ration and means responsive to the succee ing im ulses of the group for initiating a disc arge through one or more additional gaseous conduction devices, for a plying signals to the segments of said distri utor.

19. In a telegraph signaling system, a 7 source of periodic signals recurring in groups of a uniform number of impulses, a gaseous conduction device having starting characteristics differing from its operating characteristic, means responsive to said si als for applying starting conditions to sai device, means for continuing the operation of said device after said starting conditions have been discontinued and means for interrupting the operation thereof prior to the application of the succeeding starting condition thereto. 1 In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature. HAKON H. HAGL D. 

